Three workers exposed to radiation

Australia’s $200m nuclear medicine facility breached its licence when three staff members were exposed to radiation.

13 Jul 1996 Taranaki Nuclear test site, Maralinga. PicBrenton/Edwards. contamination environmental pollution radiation emblem logo outback SA signs caution warning danger barbed wire logos

Australia’s $200m nuclear medicine facility has been found in breach of its licence over an incident in which three staff members were exposed to radiation.

The ANM facility was rushed into service earlier this year after heaters for hydrogen converters failed at the old facility. It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the Australian Science and Technology Organisation, responsible for supplying nuclear medicine used in vital diag­nostic scans.

In June, production at the facility was temporarily halted after three workers were exposed to radiation, two of whom received a dose that exceeded the recommended annual limit.

The regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, investigated the incident and last month found ANSTO in breach of its ­licence for failing to take all reasonably practical steps to prevent accidents and exposing workers to radiation. ANSTO previously was found in breach over an incident in August 2017 when a worker was exposed to radiation at Lucas Heights.

While production was allowed to resume at the ANM ­facility, a breakdown last month brought it to a halt again. Repairs are ongoing — there has been speculation the work will take until mid-November at least — made more difficult by the presence of radiation.

An ANSTO spokesman said the repairs were going to plan.

“We are focused on safely fixing the fault, getting back production when that has occurred, and sourcing supply while the repairs are underway, and in parallel we are also working to understand the causes of the issues and both possible implications and measures to prevent a recurrence,” the spokesman said.